NATIONALISM FINAL PLANS:
To what extent is nationalism a progressive movement?
To what extent is nationalism an inclusive movement?
- There is a divide between those strands of nationalism which arose during freedom
movements and are based upon the concepts of freedom, liberty, democracy, etc and
those which seek to divide nations and alienate groups.
- Membership of nation
- Relations between nations
Membership of nation:
- On one hand, it can be said that liberal nationalists take a progressive stance due to their
emphasis on civic participation.
- Rousseau argues civic pride and patriotism was key to being a member of a nation.
- Liberals are highly inclusive as can be shown by the USA’s multiculturalist society.
- Garvey took an exclusivist approach with his demands for separatism but he saw this as a
route to progress and to be seen as more equal.
- On the other hand, conservative and culturalists take a rather exclusive and backward
approach.
- They essentially argue in order to be a member of a nation one must be aligned with that
culture and national identity. For example, Herder argued each nation has its own unique
character known as the ‘volksgeist’ which is expressed through language, traditions, etc.
- Conservatives seek to return to the ‘golden era’ - Brexit desire to take back control,
opposition to immigration.
- Thus this is a rather exclusive approach and prevents anyone from being a member.
- Expansionists take this to the next level and promote racialism and xenophobia, which is
highly backward and racist. For example, Maurras was highly anti-semitic.
Type of state:
- In many ways liberal nationalists are an exemplar of progression, as key to their ideas are
democracy, rationality, and freedom.
- This can be shown by the ideas of Rousseau who sought to create a state based on the
social contract and the general will of the people in the form of democracy to unite
people together and ensure collective freedom. These ideas were a key motivating force
behind the French Revolution which sought to overthrow the backward state.
- Similarly, Mazzini also placed emphasis on democracy and sought to overthrow the
monarchy, in order to achieve true nationhood.
- Anti/post-colonial nationalists also take a progressive idea and emphasise a state which
promotes socialism and reject capitalist ideas due them being exploitative.
- On the other hand, conservative nationalists are wary of change and tend to long for the
past. Thus, they place emphasis on a state which preserves traditions including the
, monarchy and church. This can be shown by their romantic idea of the state and their
emphasis on nostalgia.
- Expansionists again take a highly regressive idea and seek to create an authoritarian state
and fear any progressive ideas (Maurras). This can be shown by their emphasis on
imperialism - they look to the past where the nation was strong and unified - e.g. French
nationalism.
Relations between states:
- Liberal and socialist internationalists seek to create a world in which there is cooperation
and this can be used as a means to create peace and stability.
- Thus liberal nationalists promote a world of self-determined states and the use of
supranational organisations to maintain peace and prevent dominance. For example, the
UN and EU.
- Conversely, black-nationalists (Garvey) do not seek world cooperation and want to create
a self-sufficient Africa.
- Expansionists also take a highly regressive approach and seek colonialism. This is due to
their chauvinistic beliefs and the idea of integral nationalism which argues that some
nations are superior whereas others are inferior. Ideas of militarism.
To what extent is nationalism a rational ideology?
- Ultimately, it depends upon the strand which is being explored.
- All are somewhat based upon patriotism which is arguably irrational.
- On the whole it is largely irrational and only liberal nationalism offers a clear counter
argument.
Membership of nation:
- Some nationalists take a rational approach in who can be considered part of that nation.
This is the case with liberal nationalists who emphasise civic participation and the need to
be a citizen in order to be considered part of that nation - associated with Jean-Jacques
Rousseau who emphasised patriotism and civic pride.
- E.g. USA - multicultural
- Garvey’s idea of separatism can somewhat be seen as rational due to the ideas that the
damage to African populations needs to be repaired.
- Imperative to all is the irrational idea of patriotism (all argue there is something
unexplainable which unites individuals). This can be shown by Rousseau’s idea of
romanticism and Mazzini’s romantic idea of the national spirit - romantic figure who
fought for nationalism.
- Black nationalists such as Garvey take an irrational approach and argue that in order to be
a part of the nation one needs to be of a certain race - sought to return all black people to
Africa.
To what extent is nationalism a progressive movement?
To what extent is nationalism an inclusive movement?
- There is a divide between those strands of nationalism which arose during freedom
movements and are based upon the concepts of freedom, liberty, democracy, etc and
those which seek to divide nations and alienate groups.
- Membership of nation
- Relations between nations
Membership of nation:
- On one hand, it can be said that liberal nationalists take a progressive stance due to their
emphasis on civic participation.
- Rousseau argues civic pride and patriotism was key to being a member of a nation.
- Liberals are highly inclusive as can be shown by the USA’s multiculturalist society.
- Garvey took an exclusivist approach with his demands for separatism but he saw this as a
route to progress and to be seen as more equal.
- On the other hand, conservative and culturalists take a rather exclusive and backward
approach.
- They essentially argue in order to be a member of a nation one must be aligned with that
culture and national identity. For example, Herder argued each nation has its own unique
character known as the ‘volksgeist’ which is expressed through language, traditions, etc.
- Conservatives seek to return to the ‘golden era’ - Brexit desire to take back control,
opposition to immigration.
- Thus this is a rather exclusive approach and prevents anyone from being a member.
- Expansionists take this to the next level and promote racialism and xenophobia, which is
highly backward and racist. For example, Maurras was highly anti-semitic.
Type of state:
- In many ways liberal nationalists are an exemplar of progression, as key to their ideas are
democracy, rationality, and freedom.
- This can be shown by the ideas of Rousseau who sought to create a state based on the
social contract and the general will of the people in the form of democracy to unite
people together and ensure collective freedom. These ideas were a key motivating force
behind the French Revolution which sought to overthrow the backward state.
- Similarly, Mazzini also placed emphasis on democracy and sought to overthrow the
monarchy, in order to achieve true nationhood.
- Anti/post-colonial nationalists also take a progressive idea and emphasise a state which
promotes socialism and reject capitalist ideas due them being exploitative.
- On the other hand, conservative nationalists are wary of change and tend to long for the
past. Thus, they place emphasis on a state which preserves traditions including the
, monarchy and church. This can be shown by their romantic idea of the state and their
emphasis on nostalgia.
- Expansionists again take a highly regressive idea and seek to create an authoritarian state
and fear any progressive ideas (Maurras). This can be shown by their emphasis on
imperialism - they look to the past where the nation was strong and unified - e.g. French
nationalism.
Relations between states:
- Liberal and socialist internationalists seek to create a world in which there is cooperation
and this can be used as a means to create peace and stability.
- Thus liberal nationalists promote a world of self-determined states and the use of
supranational organisations to maintain peace and prevent dominance. For example, the
UN and EU.
- Conversely, black-nationalists (Garvey) do not seek world cooperation and want to create
a self-sufficient Africa.
- Expansionists also take a highly regressive approach and seek colonialism. This is due to
their chauvinistic beliefs and the idea of integral nationalism which argues that some
nations are superior whereas others are inferior. Ideas of militarism.
To what extent is nationalism a rational ideology?
- Ultimately, it depends upon the strand which is being explored.
- All are somewhat based upon patriotism which is arguably irrational.
- On the whole it is largely irrational and only liberal nationalism offers a clear counter
argument.
Membership of nation:
- Some nationalists take a rational approach in who can be considered part of that nation.
This is the case with liberal nationalists who emphasise civic participation and the need to
be a citizen in order to be considered part of that nation - associated with Jean-Jacques
Rousseau who emphasised patriotism and civic pride.
- E.g. USA - multicultural
- Garvey’s idea of separatism can somewhat be seen as rational due to the ideas that the
damage to African populations needs to be repaired.
- Imperative to all is the irrational idea of patriotism (all argue there is something
unexplainable which unites individuals). This can be shown by Rousseau’s idea of
romanticism and Mazzini’s romantic idea of the national spirit - romantic figure who
fought for nationalism.
- Black nationalists such as Garvey take an irrational approach and argue that in order to be
a part of the nation one needs to be of a certain race - sought to return all black people to
Africa.
